FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010
June 17, 2010
Emily Ryan
(202) 639-6421
(202) 639-6421
TSA Union: Americans Have Waited Too Long for a TSA Administrator
(WASHINGTON) - On behalf of some 40,000 Transportation Security Officers, more than 12,000 of whom are the union’s dues-paying members, the American Federation of Government Employees today urged the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to quickly report out John Pistole as TSA administrator, and asks that his nomination be quickly brought to the full Senate for a floor vote.
“TSA is in desperate need of an effective, knowledgeable leader to fulfill its incredibly important mission of ensuring safety for the flying public,” AFGE National President John Gage said. “The process seems to be working this time, and we—and 40,000 TSOs—are ready for Mr. Pistole to move forward as TSA administrator.
“AFGE believes that Pistole’s years of service as a career federal employee will allow him to fairly measure the problems, concerns and operations at TSA,” Gage said. “So many of the TSOs came to the agency because they valued its mission and were compelled to serve their country. It is so important that they have a strong leader who knows what it means to be a civil servant, and will provide clear and unambiguous direction.
“The American public has waited far too long for a permanent leader at this vitally important Department of Homeland Security agency,” Gage added. “We were encouraged that every Senator at Pistole’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing said that he was more than qualified for the TSA position, and are sure that will translate here as well.
“As the proven union of choice for TSOs across the country, AFGE looks forward to a swift approval for Mr. Pistole so that we can work together to repair and turn around this agency,” Gage said.
AFGE is the only union to represent the TSA workforce since the agency was created in 2001. The union currently has more than 12,000 dues-paying TSA members in 38 union Locals nationwide.
“TSA is in desperate need of an effective, knowledgeable leader to fulfill its incredibly important mission of ensuring safety for the flying public,” AFGE National President John Gage said. “The process seems to be working this time, and we—and 40,000 TSOs—are ready for Mr. Pistole to move forward as TSA administrator.
“AFGE believes that Pistole’s years of service as a career federal employee will allow him to fairly measure the problems, concerns and operations at TSA,” Gage said. “So many of the TSOs came to the agency because they valued its mission and were compelled to serve their country. It is so important that they have a strong leader who knows what it means to be a civil servant, and will provide clear and unambiguous direction.
“The American public has waited far too long for a permanent leader at this vitally important Department of Homeland Security agency,” Gage added. “We were encouraged that every Senator at Pistole’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing said that he was more than qualified for the TSA position, and are sure that will translate here as well.
“As the proven union of choice for TSOs across the country, AFGE looks forward to a swift approval for Mr. Pistole so that we can work together to repair and turn around this agency,” Gage said.
AFGE is the only union to represent the TSA workforce since the agency was created in 2001. The union currently has more than 12,000 dues-paying TSA members in 38 union Locals nationwide.
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